Aeroplane load-transfer device



1. KURZ. v AEROPLANE LOAD TRANSFER DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED HAILZTI' 1920 1,356,990.-

0013. 26, 1920. SHEETS-SHEET l.

m w v 3 x v i m M J. KURZ. AEROPLANE LOAD TRANSFER DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MMLZT, 1920.

' Patented Oct. 26,1920

{SHEETS-SHERL- Jwventov UNITED STATES PATENT oFFice.

JAN KURZ, OF PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAK REPUBLIC.

LEROPLAN'E LOAD-TRANSFER DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

Application filed March 27, 1920. Serial No. 869,429.

This invention relates to aeronautics and more particularly to an improved load.

transferring device for use in connection with aircraft which Wlll obv1ate the necessity of landing for the taking-on and discharge of the load or object. of transportation.

Primarily the invention contemplates a device which will greatly assist in the handling of aeroplane-carried parcels and the like without the necessity of landing with its consequent hazards and loss of time. That is to say the invention has for its general object the provision of a load receiving and transferring station which will permit of the delivery of packages, messages, mail and the like, and also the sending thereof while the aeroplane is still. in flight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical device which may be readily positioned in any convenient and desired location such for instance as the roof of a building. or the like, and which may be readily manipulated and adjusted to meet the conditions of flight, and thereby greatly assist the pilot of the aeroplane in the transferring operation.

\Vith the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood. the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully-described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 8 is a detail front elevation of the load transferring device. 7

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying the present invention into effect it is proposed to provide a relatively mobile device which. may be shifted according to the direction of flight and wind con ditions so that the aeroplane may come down against the wind at reduced speed to within approximately twenty feet of the ground to drop off the load to be delivered and take on the new packageor parcel. Accordingly, as will be observed from the drawing it is proposed to provide a platform 1 which may be of the relatively clongated characters shownin Figs. 1 and 2, and preferably supported at a central portion on a suitable pivot2 whereby it may be freely shifted in a circular direction as desired. In addition to the support afforded by the pivot 2 the platform may also be supported upon the additional wheels or rollers 3.

The rear end of the platform 1 is equippe with the vertical standards 4: and 5 arranged in alinement and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform. and carry at their upper ends the direction signals A-A. Also said standards 4 and 5 are constructedin v such a manner that in case they are struck by the aeroplane in its flight they will fall to an out of the way position.

The front end of the platform is preferably provided with a right angularly disposed arm 6 that may be rigidly secured in position by the aid of the brace 7 and the end of this arm 6 is provided with an upright portion 8 carrying a side signal B which may be utilized in conjunction with the direction signals A--A to assist and guide the pilot of the aeroplane.

The front end of the platform 1 also carries, in the zone of the side signal 13, the receiving net 10 which may be of any desired and suitable construction for receiving the load with as little shock or jar as possible, while the intermediate portion of the base or platform supports a load transfer devicedesignated generally as D and adapted to suspend the load to be picked up in such a manner that little or no resistance to the removal of the load is offered to the progress of the flight of the aeroplane. This device may consist of the base 11 shown in Fig. 3 carrying the uprights 12 which supports the'load carrying hanger 13 which will readily release the load when the grapple of the aeroplane engages the same.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present device essentially com prises a shiftable base or platform of elongated formation having the direction indicating signals A-A parallel to its axis and at oneend thereof, while the opposite end is provided with an angularly disposed arm which supports an offset side signal B,

whereby the pilot of the aeroplane will have the benefit of two signals to guide him into the proper position. for transferring one load and picking'up another. When the load carrying aeroplane is expected at thetransfer station the rotatable platform is shifted so that the direction signals stand against the wind, and as the' aeroplane comes down against the wind at reduced speed to within approximately twenty feet of the ground, the pilot directs his machine so that the signals A'A- cover each other over the platform. And, when the pilot is opposite the signal B he will release the load to be dropped and begin to direct his machine sidewise and upward so that he can pass the direction signals AA, and before the aeroplane responds to the upward movement caused by the shiftng of its controls the grapple suspended from the bottom of the machine will engage the load suspended on the hanger D, whereby the same may then be drawn into the aeroplane through a suitable opening or trap door in the floor thereof, by a Windlass mechanism or the like.

Obviously the present apparatus provides for the handling of parcels, packages and the like in a simple and expeditious manner while at the same time owing to the mobile character of the platform its adjustment towind and flight conditions may be readily accomplished.

\Vithout further description it is believed that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent and it'will of course be understood that'changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A load receiving and transferring device for aeroplanes comprisng a relatively shiftable platform having signals at opposite ends thereof, and means on the platform for receiving and holding a load for transfer.

2. A load receiving and transferring station for aeroplanes including a pivotally supported platform, a pair of direction indicating signals at one end of the platform,

a side signal carried by the front end of the platform and arranged at one side thereof,

load receiving means also at the front end of the platform, and a load transfer device carried by the intermediate portion thereof.

A load receiving and transferring device for aeroplanes comprising a relatively long platform pivotally supported at its intermedia'te portion whereby the same may be swung into. the direction of the wind, a pair of alined direction indicating signals at the rear end of the platform, and an angu arly disposed arm at the front end of the latter, a signal carried by the extremity of the arm and out of line with the direction signals, a load receivin net on the platform in the zone of the si e signal, and a load transfer device between the net and the direction signals.

4. A load receiving and transferring device for aeroplanes comprising a relatively long platform, a central locating the same, wheels for supporting the ends and intermediate portion of the platform, a pair of collapsible uprights at one end of the platform carrying direction indicating signals, said uprights being in alinement with the longitudinal axis of the platform, a side signal offset from and carried by the front end of the platform, a load receiving net on the platform in the zone of the side signal and a load transfer device carried by the intermediate portion of the platform.

5. A load receiving and transferring device for aeroplanes including in combina tion, a platform having a central pivot and carrying 'load receiving and transferring means, direction signals carried by one end of the platform and adapted to be disposed in the path of flight, and another signal carried by the approach end of the platform but offset to one side thereof out of the path of flight.

6. A load receivingand transferring device for aeroplanes including in combination, a relatively shiftable platform having signals at one end disposed in the path of flight and signal means at the other end out of the path of flight and constituting means for gaging the position of load receiving and transferring means carried by the platform.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAN KURZ. lVitnesses G. RUHER,

P. E. MoKENNEY.

pivot for rotatably 

